Readers share views on Gloria Everhart, guns, Donald Trump
Fabulous tribute
It is hard to imagine a finer tribute to an individual than the Aug. 23 article, “Half-century of style,” about Gloria Everhart, which was so beautifully written by Kate Miller. Gloria deserves every word.
She is a woman of beauty by any standards, but even more important, one of determination, kindness, ability and humor. Even saying she is a gourmet cook is no exaggeration.
Her friends — real friends who love her as I do — are from all over Kansas City and beyond. They are artists, exercisers, fellow church members, employees and customers, especially customers, most of whom have been with Act II more years than any would care to admit.
It’s nice for all of us to know Gloria is making plans for the future.
June B. Padgett
Kansas City
Guns, politicians
Criminals and terrorists obey our gun laws like politicians follow and obey their oaths of office.
Joe Neuner
Olathe
Vote for Trump
I cannot understand why anyone would vote for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. What she has done to our country should be enough to put her in prison.
If any of us had done even one of the things she has done, where do you think we would be?
Washington, D.C., is corrupt with all taking money from lobbyists. Clinton is one of the biggest offenders, and she also has taken from countries that would want things in return.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is the far better choice. We need someone who is not beholden to anyone and has our best interests at heart. At least that is what I hope.
Voting for Trump is our only chance to take our county back.
Betty Phillips
Overland Park
Ponnuru column
Ramesh Ponnuru, in his Aug. 25 commentary, “Welfare reform turns out to be a bipartisan success story,” paints a rather rosy picture, but his wishful thinking doesn’t match up to reality. Yes, in the years after Temporary Assistance for Needy Families was created, poverty dropped, especially among single mothers.
But that was due more to a booming economy and an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit than reform itself.
Since Congress converted welfare to block grants to states, the amount of TANF money actually going to families has dropped from more than 75 percent in 1997 to less than 30 percent today. States have diverted TANF money to other priorities, including fixing budget debacles (see Kansas).
The truest test of TANF came during the Great Recession, when families were losing their jobs and their homes and needed help. Did it save the day? Not hardly. TANF spending remained flat.
Meanwhile, enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP (food stamps), increased, as it was designed to do in economic downturns, and lifted millions out of poverty. SNAP was the unsung hero of the Great Recession; TANF was its injured sidekick.
Welfare reform’s anniversary is not cause for celebration but a cautionary tale of what not to do to help Americans in poverty.
Jos G. Linn
Grassroots Manager
U.S. Poverty
Campaigns
Kansas City
Kindness counts
Recently, my elderly husband and my elderly, disabled self attended a function in downtown. Because of my difficulty walking, my husband dropped me at the door and parked the car.
He came back exhausted and hot. On leaving the function, he was still dragging. He couldn’t remember where he parked the car. Nothing looked familiar to him, and he seemed a bit confused (which is new to him ).
We walked, looked and nothing was remembered. I was panicked.
A young man asked whether he could help. He drove us, complete strangers, up eight floors looking for our car — no, not there. Across the street he drove us up five floors — no, not there. He drove all around looking for a clue.
Then, driving past the Barney-Allis Plaza garage triggered a memory. We drove in, and there was our car.
This man did us a tremendous favor. He was kind and understanding but refused any reimbursement.
We didn’t exchange information, but you, Kind Young Man, know who you are and what you did for us. Thank you from our whole hearts.
I told you I would pray for you, and I have. God bless you, Kind Man.
John and Jean
Kantola
Kansas City
This story was originally published August 26, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Readers share views on Gloria Everhart, guns, Donald Trump."